Parents reel under rising educational expenses
With the commencement of the new academic session 2023-24 today [Monday], the costs of textbooks, school uniforms, school shoes and school bags have become out of the purchasing power of parents.
The prices of textbooks have increased by 50 to 60 per cent due to the increase in the price of imported paper because of the increase in the value of the US dollar.
Transporters have also increased the pick and drop fees for children due to inflation and a hike in petrol prices. Further, all the public and private schools have increased their fees, which has added to the parents’ woes.
Sources said along with the increase in the price of textbooks, there has also been a shortage of textbooks in the market. “There is a shortage of Urdu and Islamic studies books for primary classes while all science textbooks from middle to secondary classes are also not available in the market,” the sources said. “Parents are getting worried in Urdu bazaars to buy textbooks for their children with money in their hands,” they added.
Meanwhile, parents said that with the start of the new academic year, the transporters have increased the pick and drop fee of children from Rs700 to Rs2,000 per child depending on the distance. This increase has been implemented since April 3.
The new admission fee in private schools has been increased from Rs1,500 to Rs5,000 for pre-primary to 5th class and for the middle class from Rs5,000 to Rs7,000.
While there are no admission charges in the government schools, Rs100 is being collected from each student in the name of the education promotion fund which was previously charged at Rs20.
The school uniform price has been increased in the market from Rs2,500 to Rs3,000, school shoes Rs2,700, normal school bag Rs2,000, medium school bag from Rs2,700 to Rs3,000 while good quality school bag is being sold for Rs3,500 to Rs4,500.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 4th, 2023.